Beatrice, Countess of Granard | |
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Countess Beatrice, c. 1910
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Born |
Newport, Rhode Island, U.S. |
19 July 1883
Died | 30 January 1972 Paris, France |
(aged 88)
Residence |
London, England Paris, France Newtownforbes, County Longford, Ireland |
Occupation | Heiress, racehorse owner/breeder |
Spouse(s) | Bernard, Earl of Granard |
Children |
Arthur, Earl of Granard (1915-1992) John (1920-1982) Lady Moira (1910-1994) Lady Eileen (1919-1993) |
Parent(s) |
Ogden Mills Ruth T. Mills (née Livingston) |
Relatives |
Gladys Mills Phipps (sister) Ogden L. Mills (brother) |
Jane Beatrice Forbes, Countess of Granard (née Mills; 19 July 1883 – 30 January 1972) was an American-born heiress.
She was born on 19 July 1883 in Newport, Rhode Island. She was the daughter of Ogden Mills; she was a twin to Gladys and sister of Ogden.
On 14 January 1909, she married Bernard, Earl of Granard with whom she had four children. Her daughter, Lady Moira, married Count Rossi of Switzerland and Lady Eileen married John, Marquess of Bute. With her marriage, Beatrice Mills would be known as Countess and/or Lady Granard. Her husband's wealth was limited and she provided the funds to finish restoring the family's historic Castleforbes in Newtownforbes, County Longford, Ireland. Their principal residence was at Forbes House, Halkin Street, SW1 in London, plus a residence at 73 Rue de Varenne, Paris, France she would inherit from her father.
Beatrice Mills was raised around horses at her family's Livingston Mansion in Staatsburg, New York. Her father owned Thoroughbred racehorses in the United States and in France in partnership with Edward, Earl of Derby. Beatrice's sister Gladys and her brother Ogden would establish Wheatley Stable that would become one of the preeminent Thoroughbred racing and breeding operations in the United States.
Beatrice's husband, Bernard, was Master of the Horse whose duties for King George V included overseer of the Royal Stables and Stud. On January 29, 1929, Beatrice's father died. As part of her inheritance she received his stable of Thoroughbreds in France. That year, she led all owners in purses earned. In 1933, her horse, Cappiello, won the Prix Lupin and the prestigious Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris. Among her other racing successes, Lady Granard's horses won the Prix Jacques le Marois in 1937 and 1967. In 1964 her horse Pourparler won the British Classic, the 1,000 Guineas Stakes.